When it comes to hosting a Pro-Am, what players and spectators see on the day is only part of the story. Behind every smooth fairway, firm green, and raked bunker lies months of careful planning and preparation by the greenkeeping team. Events like the Pro-Am are typically fixtured well in advance, giving the team the time they need to bring the course to tournament condition.
About three months out, attention turns to turf renovation. Tees, fairways, and greens are lightly scarified to reduce thatch and encourage healthy growth. Aerification and topdressing follow to smooth surfaces and improve drainage. Pest and weed control are also ramped up to ensure consistency across all playing areas.
Fertility management is crucial. After fairways are scarified, a high-quality, granulated fertiliser is applied to both fairways and tees. These products release nutrients slowly over an 8–10-week period, ensuring the turf receives consistent nutrition leading up to the event. On the greens, fertility is more precise. Using the Multi Pro spray equipment, staff apply carefully measured amounts of foliar nutrients. This prevents over-fertilisation, avoiding overly soft or lush putting surfaces. A growth regulator is also added to firm up the greens by tightening the leaf blades and reducing clippings.
This year, we sourced some help from contractors to re-face and level out the bunkers in the weeks leading up to the Pro-Am. This was proven to be a brilliant part of the preparation as they had the equipment and skills, and the results were fantastic.
In the final week, mowing is stepped up to refine surfaces. Irrigation is reduced to keep conditions firm. Bunkers are re-edged and raked, exposed tree roots trimmed, and greens are mown daily and rolled five times. By tournament day, green speed is a consistent 11 feet 6 inches. Hole locations are selected and marked weeks in advance to minimise wear on the chosen areas and ensure fairness and consistency for all players.
On the day itself, the course gets a final grooming. Greens are cut and rolled again to fine-tune speed and consistency. Bunkers are raked and repaired, new pins and flags are set, and hole and tee markers are moved to fresh locations. Tees are mown to ensure a clean appearance, and a final sweep of the course removes any branches or debris that may have fallen overnight.
While the Pro-Am only lasts a day, the work behind it spans months. The greenkeeping team’s dedication ensures the course not only looks its best but plays to the highest standard. Their effort is key to the tournament’s success. We are proud of our greenkeeping team and their hard work year-round, but especially in the event of the Pro-Am.
